MSRA’s “Back to the Fifties” event will celebrate 40 years of hot rods and community this summer in St. Paul, MN. In tribute to the event, we will be reposting excerpts from a series of articles that appeared in the MSRA LineChaser magazine in 2012 documenting the history of the event. Thanks to Bud Bloomquist for compiling the articles in the first place, to Gary Magner for facilitating them, to all the contributors and to Graphics Design Inc. for providing us files in the proper format.
The second Back to the Fifties followed a similar pattern in scope and location as the first, but by the third year the event was growing in size and concept. It moved from the Midway Shopping Center in St. Paul to the State Fairgrounds, and introduced a drag-racing element.
These excerpts were originally published in the in March and April 2012 issues of LineChaser.
1975
“The June 20-21 Back to the Fifties weekend is nearing final preparation. Jerry Johnson says we have the OK from Twin City Speedway (Northstar or Disneyland, which ever you like) for Saturday night. They have plans for a one hour street rod program broken up throughout the evening’s racing program. This should give us 30 to 50 heads up, flag started runs. After the racing program there are plans of a big rod-oriented dance at Rockville USA in Hugo.
–LineChaser, June 1975
1976
“After attending a Board of Directors meeting, there was a stop for coffee at Froggy’s or Frog Town Diner on Lake Street. At this coffee break was Gene Sonnen, Mike Nystrom, Ron White, Tom Vollbrecht, Bud Bloomquist and a few others who have escaped my memory. During this get-together, Gene commented, “I think we should make Back to the 50’s a rod run in our town. It seems like we are always going to another town. We could keep the 50’s theme and maybe go to North Star Drag Strip and have flag-start drag races.
Mike Nystrom said he would do the flag starts. I was asked if the Amblers would take care of the drag race event. I said I would bring it up at our next Ambler meeting. The Amblers were very eager to do this. The idea was brought up at the membership meeting for the MSRA. A motion was made and it passed. The date was set for June 18, 19 & 20, 1976 for the Back to the 50’s.
Rick Schnell and I made a trip out to North Star/Twin City Speedway. We met with the track manager, Aaron Zafke, and we got the OK to hold the event on Saturday the 19th. The Amblers would take care of the race event and inspect cars and make sure they were safe to race. I would be the voice in the tower announcing the cars and drivers. Mike Nystrom would flag-start and Corky Jechorek to stage cars.
Bud Bloomquist, #54
‘What has nearly 500 street rods, machines and customs, happens on a Friday night in mid-June and is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds? A-mini-Nationals? A big,big car show? MSRA’s Back to the 50’s night? Well, judging from the enthusiasm and the crowds, all three answers could be considered correct. A mini-Nats, it wasn’t, but who is to say that is couldn’t be in the future.
Six o’clock in the evening on June 18 saw the machinery hill section of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds filling with lots and lots of fine machinery. By eight o’clock nearly 500 vehicles were in place or cruising the streets and more were coming all the time. The weatherman was very cooperative this year. The skies were clear and the humidity was low. (Can you believe the Foremans still managed to get wet in their “T”?) It looked like the start of a perfect weekend of fun.
About 8:45pm, the cars started pulling out of the fairgrounds for the annual “cruise” of University Avenue in St Paul. The old “50’s” theme was in full force. People lined the streets watching the parade of beautiful vehicles. The Minnesota Drive-in “landmark”, Porky’s, was the center of attraction. The drive-in looked like something right out of “American Graffiti”… solid street rods, and a solid stream of cars cruisin’ through. On the street cars were parked on both sides, and as far as you could see in either direction were street rods and street customs. Wild!
Down University Avenue at the original “50’s” meeting place, the Midway Shopping Center, more cars were parked. (This year we had to move the location to the fairgrounds because we outgrew the shopping center parking lot) and in just about every square inch of available parking lot space along the Avenue, street rods and customs could be seen. I don’t think there has ever been a night in the history of St Paul or Minneapolis … for that matter … that has ever seen the likes of June 18, 1976, even back in the ‘50s or ‘60s.All in all, it was a genuine good time for all who took part. But the week-end still had more in store.
Saturday afternoon it was the “Back to the 50’s Drag Race” at North Star Drag Strip. The turnout was again good. Nothing like the night before, but about 70 street rods and customs showed up to display their talents and reaction times on the drag strip. Forty of the cars made the runs with the other 30 sitting back in the show area. WOW! I didn’t realize we had so many really quick cars. Mike Nystrom handled the flag starts while “greaser,” Corky Jechorek lined up the cars for the start. The crowd went wild at the sight of the speedsters.
Early in the afternoon, Jerry Dresow, from Bird Island, took his potent little ‘23 Ford Pickup out and blistered the track with a 12.50 ET. In making this run, his roadster windshield decided it had enough of this drag racin’ stuff and decided to leave its proper place up front. Result: a cut finger and chin on Jerry, which required a few stitches to patch up. Jerry wasn’t one to give up. After a quick trip to the Doc’s office to get things patched up, Jerry came back to blow the doors off all comers. Man … that 440 Magnum Dodge engine in that little “T” sure has a lot of punch. Jerry and his wife, Cindy, went home with the beautiful 4-foot “Top Eliminator” trophy that the drag strip gave. So when you’re out in the Bird Island area, watch out for that little blue “T”and that big 440 engine. It’s potent. Congrats to Jerry & Cindy on their win and many thanks to the members of the Amblers Car Club who handled all of the arrangements for the event. And a special thanks to the owners and operators, and especially to Aaron Zafke, manager of North Star Drag Strip for allowing us the opportunity to have this event. We hope that it will be the start of many to come.
Sunday was yet another day in the “50’s” Weekend bash. This time the event moved to Brook’s Dance Hall in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota for the Back to the 50’s Dance. Again about 75 cars showed up for the parking lot show ‘n’ shine. Members came out in force dressed in the 50’s style of greasy hair for the guys and big skirts for the gals. The dance went on into the night to the strains of rock’n’ roll. Teen King and the Princes, Rockin’ Hollywoods, and a couple of other bands kept up the pace. The Cruisin Customs Car Club deserves many thanks for setting up the event. A special thanks goes to Tom Larkey for his work in following through with Brooks management for the dance. And last, but not least, thanks to all of the MSRA members and their friends who made the whole weekend a super successful one.
Excerpt from Jerry Johnson’s article in LineChaser, 1976
